U.S. Gen. John J. Pershing, second from left, decorates Brig. Gen. Douglas MacArthur with the Distinguished Service Cross following the Meuse-Argonne Offensive of WWI. (Courtesy/Greeley Historic Preservation Commission)

The Greeley Historic Preservation Commission is hosting a presentation about the Meuse-Argonne Battle, arguably the greatest unknown battle in American history, as part of its free 2018 History Brown Bag Series.

History Brown Bag

A presentation about the Meuse-Argonne Offensive of World War I takes place at noon Thursday in the Community Room of the Greeley History Museum, 714 8th St. A second presentation follows at 1:30 p.m.

The presentations are free and open to the public. No reservations are required.

The hour-long presentation by University of Northern Colorado History Professor Emeritus Ron Edgerton takes place at noon Thursday in the Community Room at the Greeley History Museum, 714 8th St. Due to the number of college students expected to attend, a second presentation will follow at 1:30 p.m.

The Meuse-Argonne Offensive was the largest in U.S. military history, involving 1.2 million American soldiers. It was part of the Hundred Days Offensive, an allied offensive that stretched the entire Western Front, and brought an end to WWI.

The Meuse-Argonne Offensive took place over 47 days, lasting from Sept. 26, 1918, until the Armistice of Nov. 11, 1918, in rugged terrain between the Meuse River and the Argonne Forest in northern France.

It was the deadliest battle in U.S. history with 26,277 Americans killed and another 95,786 wounded. Casualties were exacerbated by inexperience and poor tactics during the early days of the battle, as well as an outbreak of Spanish flu.

Notable Americans who participated in the battle were Col. Charles Whittlesey and his “Lost Battalion,” Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. Alvin York, commander of the American Expeditionary Force Gen. John Joseph “Black Jack” Pershing, future Secretary of State George Marshall, Brig. Gen. Douglas MacArthur and future U.S. President Harry Truman.